Automatic gas and electricity controlling device



April 1930. J. L. IBLALACK Y 1,755,497

AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRICITY CONT ROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8. 1927 IN VEN TOR.

d. L. BLAL/ICK BY 70 .4 TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 JACOB L. BLALACK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRICITY CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed August 8, 1927.

This invention relates to automatic gas and electricity controlling devices. 4

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved device which will be actuated by earthquake tremors or fire to break an electric circuit and to shut ofi the gas in a building.

A specific object of myinvention is to provide an improved circuit breaker wherein means is provided for breaking the electric circuit either by earthquake tremors or by excessive heat.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel gas shut-01f wherein means is provided 'for actuating the shut-0E by either earthquake tremors or by excessive heat. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel form of shut-off valve wherein means is provided for relieving the pressure beyond the valve when the valve is actuated to shut off the supply from the main feed e. v )ther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the housing containing my improved shut-off device.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the device on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of my improved shut-off valve taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,sl1owing the valve in an open position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the valve in a closed position, and

Fig. .5 is a diagrammatic showing of a preferred method of hook-up used to cause my improved controlling device to be actuated by a fire in a building with which it is asso ciated.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated my improved device generally at 10. The device 10 includes an electric circuit breaker indicated generally at 11 and a gas control device indicated generally at 12. The electric circuit breaker 11 and the gas control device 12 are preferably mounted within a common housing 14 as 0 shown.

Serial No. 211,417.

The electric circuit breaker 11 comprises a knife switch 15 which is shown as a two pole type and includes a base 16 having mounted thereon a pair of terminals 17 and 18, a pair of blades 19 and 20 pivotally con- 5 nected to the terminals 17 and 18 as at 21 and connected together by an insulated bar 22, and another pair of terminals 23 and 24:. A lead in negative wire 25 connects with the terminal 18 and a take-ofl. negative wire 26 connects with the terminal 24 as shown in Fig. 2. A lead in positive wire 27 connects to a terminal 28 mounted on an insulated base 29 and from the terminal 28 the positive current is'conducted through a fusible memher or rod 30 to another terminal 31. A' positive wire 32 connects the terminals 17 and 31-and'a take-off positive wire, 33 connects with the terminal-23.

. For actuating the knife switch '15 to cause the circuit to be broken I provide a weighted member or ball'35 which is connected to the bar 22 of the switch by a cord or chain 36 as shown. The ball 35 is normally positioned h upon a seat 37 of a horizontal arm 38 of a bell crank rocker arm 39. The rocker arm 39 is pivotally connected as at 40 to a bracket 41 which is secured to the housing 14 and may be insulated from the bracket as shown at 42 or the whole rocker arm may be made of an insulating material. The arm 38 of the rocker arm 39 is retained in a horizontal position byvanother arm 43 which extends upward from the pivot point 40 and is positioned against the fusible bar 30. p v

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when heavy earthquake tremors cause the weighted ball 35 to become unseated from the arm 38 it will fall to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and through the medium of the chain 36 actuate the knife switch .to the dotted line position thereb breaking the circuit from the terminals 1 and 18 to the terminals 23 and 24, whereupon M the danger of a fire caused by an electrical short circuit in the building protected by my device will be eliminated.

The gas control device 12 includes a valve 45 having an operating member 46 thereon m to which is loosely connected an actuating arm 47 provided at its free end with a' weight 48. For retaining the actuating arm in a raised position I provide a catch 49 pivotally connected as at 50 to a bracket 51 secured to the housing 14. The catch 49 includes a hooked arm 52 which engages a loop '53 on the weight 48 of the arm 47 and normally supports the weight and arm to retain the valve in an open position.

For rocking the arm 52 to disengage it from the loop 53 the catch 49 is provided with an arm 54 which is connected to the insulated bar-22 of the knife switch 15 by a cord or chain 55 as shown in the drawings. Thus it will be seen that when the ball 35 is unseated by either fire or shock as previously described the movement of the bar 22 of the knife switch will rock the lever 54 and the arm 52 to disengage the arm 52' from the loop 53 of the weight 48, whereupon the weight 48 will cause the arm 47 to move downward to the dotted line position, thereby moving the valve 45 to shut off the flow of gas into the building.

The loose connection of the arm 47 with the valve operating member 46 allows the arm 47 to gain momentum before it begins to actuate the valve so that if the parts become still in operation the energy of the descending actuation.

In the accompanyin drawing I have provided a guide 56 whic prevents the arm 47 from swaying sideways when descending and on the guide I have provided a stop 57 to limit the downward movement of the arm 47.

Various forms of switches and valves may be employed in connection with my device. In the accompanying drawing I have shown the valve 45 as of novel construction wherein I means is provided for relieving the pressure beyond the valve when the valve is actuated to shut off the flow from the main feed pipe. My improved valve 45 comprises a housing 60 provided withan inlet 61, an outlet 62, a bypass outlet 63 and a rotatable core 64. The rotatable core 64 is provided with a feed passage and by a by-pass passage 66. As shown in Fig. 3 when the actuating arm 47 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 the feed passage 65 forms a communicating passageway from the inlet 61 to the outlet 62 and the ends of the by-pass passage 66 does not communicate with either the inlet, outlet or by- V ass outlet.

As s own in Fig. 4 when the actuating arm '47 is in the dotted line position shown in Fig.

1 the by-pass passage 66 forms a communicating passageway from the outlet 62 to the bypass outlet 63 and the ends of the feed passage 65 areclosed by portions of the housing 60 and do not communicate with either the inlet 61 or the outlet 62. When the core 64 is in this position the gas beyond the control valve may pass from the outlet 62 through the weight will jar the parts and'cause passage 66 and out through the bypass out- .let 63, thus allowing the gas in the building coming into contact with the flame due to an earthquake shock.

In Fig. 5 I have shown diagrammatically a prefered method of wiring my device so that a fire in a building will cause actuation of the device. In this view I have indicated a building generally at 70 and have shown the building as divided into a plurality of rooms each provided with a plurality of electric lights 71 which are supplied with current from the service wires 26 and 33. In each of the rooms of the building 70 and connected to the wires 26 and 33 I have shown at 72 myv improved circuit controlling device which is fully described and shown in detail in my co-pending application Serial No. 206,401, filed July 18, 1927.

These devices 72 are so constructed that a fire in the near vicinity thereof will cause a short circuit between the positive wire and the negative wire. When the devices 72 form a short circuit, the heat generated will fuse the rod 30, releasing the rocker arm 39, and causing the weight 35 to fall, whereupon the devicelO will be operated as previously described. It will be understood that the devices indicated at 72 may be any desired character although I prefer to use my invention as above mentioned.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel form of combined electric circuit breaker and gas shut-oflz' device which is either actuated by earthquake tremors or by fire and one which is positive and eflicient in operation.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a

knife switch, a weighted member connected tosaidswitch,aseatforsaidmember,saidmember being adapted to be unseated by earthquake tremors to actuate said switch to break the circuit therethrough, a valve, :1. second weighted member connected to said valve, a catch normally supporting said second member, and means whereby said catch is released by said first mentioned weighted member when unseated to release said second weighted member and actuate said shut-off valve.

2. In combination with distributing means for two media of different characteristics, a solid conductor for one of said media and a hollow conductor for the other of said media. means to control the passage of each of said media through their respective conductors and a common means for actuating each of said control means to stop the passage of each 3. In combination with gas and electricity distributing lines, a solid conductor for electricity and a hollow conductor for gas, means to control the passage of the electricity and gas through their respective conductors, a common means for actuating each of said control means to stop the passage of each of said media through their respective conductors, said common means comprising a member mounted to be moved by seismic disturbances.

4. In a device of the class described, a housing, a knife switch mountedin and insulated from said housing, a pivoted member mounted in and insulated from said housing, said member including two arms, a fusible member for retaining said arms in set position, a bracket for supporting each end of said fusible member, said brackets being insulated from said housing, a wire attached to one of said brackets,-another wire connecting the other of saidbrackets to one side of said switch, a seat on one of said arms,-a weight connected to said switch and normally positioned on said pivotedmember, said weight adapted to "be unseated by earthquake tremors or'by filre causing said fusible rod to melt, said weight when unseated being adapted toactuate said switch to break the circuit therethrough.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing, a pivoted rocker member mounted in said housing, said rocker member including two arms, a fusible member for holding said rocker member in set position, a seat on one of said arms, a weight connected to said switch and normally positioned on said seat,

said weight adapted to be released from said seat by earthquake tremors or by melting of said fusible rod to actuate said switch to break the circuit therethrough, a shut-off valve, said shut-ofi valve including an inlet, an outlet, a by-pass outlet and a core, a passage in said core adapted in one position of said core to form a passageway from said inlet to said outlet, another passage in said core adapted when said core is in another position to form a passageway from said outlet to said by-p-ass outlet, said first passage being adapted when said second passage is In full communication with said outlet and said by-pass outlet to be completely out of communication with said inlet and said outlet,

and said second passage being adapted when said first passage is in full communcation with said inlet and said outlet to be completelyout of communication with said outlet and sa d by-pass outlet and means operated by said weight when released for actuating said cut-off valve.

7. In a device of the class described, a switch, a weight connected to said switch, a movable seat for said weight, a fusible member for holding saidseat'in an operative position, means to fuse said fusible member to release sa1dseat to unseat said weight and break the circuit through said switch, said means including a device connected to a positive' and to a negative wire of an electric service system and lncludlng means whereby excessive heat in the vicinity of said device will cause said negative and said positive wires to be connected to form a short in said electrical system, the current in one of said wires of said electrical system passing through said fusible member whereupon said member will be fused when a short circuit is formed in said electrical system.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature. JACOB L.' BLALACK.

said fusible rod, said weight when unseated V being adapted to actuate said switch to break the circuit therethrough, a pipe valve and means operated by said weight-for operating said pipe valve.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing, a switch mounted in and insulated from said housing, a pivoted rocker arm mounted in and insulated from said housing, said rocker arm including a substantially horizontal t arm' and a substantially vertical arm, a fusible bar for retaining said vertical arm in position,

a bracket adjacent each end of said bar and supporting said bar, said brackets being insulated from said housing, a wire attached to one of-said brackets, another wire connecting the other of said brackets to one side of said switch, a seat on one arm of said rocker arm,

a weight connected to said switch and no rmally positioned on said rocker arm seat, sald weight being adapted to be unseated by earthquake tremors or by fire causing melting of 

